Topic > The Biopsychosocial Model - 1453

INTRODUCTION“Don't cure the disease, treat the patient” [9]. Over the centuries, as science improved, the concept of health seemed to become complex in its definition. “Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”-World Health Definition of Health (1948) [9]To understand health, several models or frameworks of thought are been developed that have proven useful. The biomedical model that evolved starting in the 19th century from Galen's (Greek physician of 200 AD) concept of the pathogen focused on the removal of disease/disability and not on prevention or general well-being [9]. The Biopsychosocial model, however, does not simply focus on the physical state of the body but recognizes the human being as a complex organism and health as an interaction between physical/body/biological, mind/psychological and environment/sociological. This model was introduced by George Engel (1977). Reflection is the process of evaluating ideas/thoughts arising from experiences and making active decisions. It is a necessary tool in experiential learning.[4] Several models have been developed to facilitate this process, but this essay will be retrospective and will be based on John's (1992) structured reflection model [3,4]. The general reflective questions will be WHAT? SO WHAT? AND THEN WHAT? [4] Suggesting an option for a new theory of health care does not necessarily mean invalidating all previous or existing ones, since their relationship does not have to be exclusivist, but can instead be inclusive.[8] Einstein's theory, for example, went beyond Newton's physics, but the latter still remains relevant to this day. Although the biomedical and biopsychosocial models each… half of the paper… Versity Library website [accessed 20 December 2013] [8] Schmidt, J.M., 2012. The Biopsychosocial Model and Its Potential for a New Theory of homeopathy. Homeopathy (2012), [electronic journal], pp.121-128. Available via: Anglia Ruskin University Library website [accessed 20 December 2013] [9] Shalini, GJ: 2013. Biopsychosocial Model, Professional Development 1. MAHSA University, unpublished.[10] Sigerist, HE: A History of Medicine: Primitive and Archaic Medicine, Vol 1. Oxford UK, Oxford University Press, 1951[11] Yolanda, A., 2003. The biopsychosocial model in medical research: the evolution of the concept of health in over the last two decades. Patient Education and Counseling 53 (2004), [electronic journal], pp.239-244. Available via: Anglia Ruskin University Library website [accessed 20 December 2018]. 2013]